Rays new hitting coach

This was taken from the St.Pete Times. Strange but the "Animal" named Steve from WDAE 620 was talking about this just yesterday on his show. Situational hitting hs been stressed since high school. Anyway Rays fans here it is.Derek Shelton figures this is a good situation.


Shelton was announced Wednesday as the Rays' hitting coach and already has plans to address one of their primary shortcomings: lack of success in situational hitting.

"It's important, and it's something that's going to be stressed from Day 1 in spring training," Shelton said. "The big thing we're going to try to talk about and be consistent with is making sure our approach stays consistent.''

Among the concepts he'll stress: pitch selection, making more use of the middle of the field, and "team offense."

Shelton, 39, spent the past five seasons as the Indians' hitting coach then was let go along with manager Eric Wedge and the rest of the staff.

A former minor-league coach with the Indians and Yankees, he has lived in Wesley Chapel the past 15 years and is excited about joining the Rays, where he'll replace Steve Henderson.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman praised Shelton's attention to detail and communication skills and called him "one of the better minds in baseball when it comes to hitting." Manager Joe Maddon said he and Shelton have similar philosophies and hiring him was "an easy decision."

They needed him tonight

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